It was an unfamiliar smell and the brightness of the morning sun that woke Beca the next morning. She closed her eyes, furrowing her brow as she turned away from the window and curled into the girl next to her. It was the feeling of someone in the bed with her that finally made her open her eyes in confusion. It took a second, and she had to scoot back a little to see before the memories of where she was came flooding back.

Chloe was still sleeping soundly next to her and if she listened closely, she could make out the sounds of someone in the kitchen. She let out a breath, worried the door would open and Chloe's foster parents would see she was awake before Chloe was. What if they asked her to come out alone? What kind of questions would they ask her? She snuggled down further, her panic causing her to almost squirm.

"Beca? What's wrong?" Came a sleep laced voice and she looked to see Chloe beginning to sit up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Nothing, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up."

Chloe sat up fully and Beca followed her lead. "What happened? You look like you've seen a ghost."

She looked down, feeling ashamed and Chloe reached out, gently tilting her face back up. "Beca, what's wrong?"

"I woke up, and I heard them out there in the kitchen. You were still asleep, and I was afraid they would come in. I didn't want to be alone with them, I don't know what I would say."

Chloe tried to ease her worries with a soft smile. "You don't have to worry Beca. They don't come in in the mornings. I'll be with you all the time; you don't have to stress about that."

"Thanks. I'm sorry, I don't know how to do this."

"You have nothing to apologize for. Are you hungry? She goes all out for Saturday morning breakfast." Chloe chuckled pushing the blanket off her and standing up.

Beca nodded and got up as well, following her out of the room.

XXXXXX

Stacie stood in front of the cracked bathroom mirror pulling her hair back into a ponytail as she avoided her reflection. She had caught a glimpse of the bruise on her cheek and looked away quickly. She didn't have money for the make up she needed to cover it and knew that a bruise like that was going to attract attention. The last thing she needed when she had multiple runs that day for Luke.

She sighed and walked out of the bathroom, bumping into Cynthia-Rose. Another one of Luke's people. She had been with Luke since they were in high school. She had been around longer than any of them and she was Luke's most trusted. Usually the one to send Stacie where she needed to go.

"Sorry, didn't see you." Stacie apologized as she stepped back.

"You're good. I heard you found the money Beca was sent for last night." She said and Stacie nodded.

"Yep."

"Not before he lost his temper, I see." Cynthia said eying the bruise on her face.

She shrugged. "Could have been worse, I guess."

Cynthia sighed and reached into her pocket. "Here, go down to the pharmacy and get something to cover that up. You're going to Pasadena today. People might be suspicious of that up there." She said handing her some cash.

"Thanks, I appreciate it." She said.

Cynthia-Rose had always been kind to Stacie and Beca. She was dealt the wrong hand in life just like they were. Like Luke and Jesse too. However, Cynthia and Jesse didn't let it turn them into monsters.

"Who is going to Pasadena with me?" She asked and Cynthia let out a breath.

"Aaron." She said and Stacie's eyes grew wide.

"What? No, you said I wouldn't have to go anywhere with him again after last time." She said, her voice panicked.

"I know, I'm sorry. Luke's orders, and he wouldn't listen to anything I had to say."

"Please try to change his mind?" Stacie begged, looking down the hall toward Luke's room.

"I did and I almost ended up with one of those." She pointed to Stacie's face.

Stacie looked down, her eyes filling with tears and she clutched the money she held. "I don't want to do this run." She said looking back up at Cynthia.

"Stacie, you don't have a choice. The Pasadena run is one of the biggest and Jesse and Cole have already left for the day."

"Can't you and I go? Isn't there another run Aaron could go on?" She began to get shaky as she looked down the hall again. She knew Luke was in his room, getting ready for the day. She wanted to convince Cynthia to help her before he came out.

"I already have three I need to get done by this evening; Pasadena would take me all day. You'll be okay Stacie, I'm sure I got through to Aaron last time. He wont try it again."

"Please?" She tried once more, but Luke's door opened before Cynthia could answer her and she quickly shoved the money in her pocket and looked down.

"CR, everything okay?" He asked walking toward them, rolling up his sleeves and Stacie chanced a look at him.

"All good. Stacie was just asking if she could help me with my runs today, I'm fine with it, if you are?"

Luke looked between them. "What about Pasadena, I thought I told you she was going with Aaron?"

"I know, but I mean, she's not really in good enough shape to be going there honestly. People will wonder about her face, especially if she is with a guy that looks the way Aaron does. I don't mind if she comes with me, she has never done the Downey area."

Stacie's heart was pounding, she didn't know Cynthia would ask him again, but she hoped.

"Well, its her own fault she looks like that." He said glaring at her.

"She didn't hit herself, Luke. You know to be more careful." Cynthia said and Stacie's eyes shot up to her. No one ever spoke to Luke like that.

He looked at her, his jaw tightening before he let out a breath. "Yeah, I know."

This time, her eyes were on Luke. Had he just agreed?

"Whatever, she can go with you. I'll go to Pasadena. Don't really need her screwing that up anyway." He said before looking at Stacie.

"Dodged a bullet, didn't you?" he smirked before walking between them and going down the stairs.

She looked at Cynthia. "Thank you, I owe you."

"Come on, we better get going." She said, a little shaken herself. Luke didn't take kindly to being scolded. She knew he only took it because of who she was. However, she didn't plan on pushing her luck to much further.

XXXXXX

The weekend flew by and before she knew it, it was Sunday afternoon and Beca was packing her bag.

"Where am I going to say I live?" She asked in a hushed tone. Chloe's foster mom insisted on driving her home and she wouldn't take no for an answer. Now, Chloe was frantically googling random addresses hoping to find somewhere they could drop her off.

"How about this?" She asked turning her phone to show her a modest little house about thirty minutes away.

"That'll work, I can take the bus from there." She nodded. "Thank you, Chloe."

Chloe nodded, saving the address before pulling Beca into a hug.

"How much trouble are you going to be in when you get back?" She asked.

"I don't know."

"He wont like…do anything right?" She asked pulling back.

Beca shrugged. "He hasn't before. So, I don't think so. I guess I'll find out."

"Please consider what I said? About leaving?" Chloe asked. "You could have a real chance at a normal life, Beca. I know it. You just have to make the choice."

Beca looked down. "I'll think about it. And I will call you as soon as I can. You can tell me what school you chose, then." She smiled.

Chloe looked down, not wanting to think about the fact that choosing any one of the colleges that accepted her would mean moving far away from Beca.

"We better go." She said looking back up and was met with a soft pair of lips against her own.

She inhaled sharply, surprised, before relaxing into it.

Neither of them knew when they had developed feelings for each other. But when it happened it happened fast. They were taking it slow, however still being in the situation they were. Only seeing each other every few weeks. Hardly ever speaking between those times.

All Chloe knew was, she loved Beca, and Beca loved her. And she was so scared for the girl, every time they parted. Scared she would never see her again.

"I love you, Chloe." Beca said pulling back and Chloe could feel her eyes growing hot with tears. Something felt off. They both had a horrible feeling in their gut, though neither of them was saying anything.

"I love you too, Beca."

XXXXXX

"Here we are."

They pulled up to the little house Chloe had found and her foster mom smiled back at her.

"Thank you for letting me stay with you." Beca said grabbing her bag.

"Anytime! Your parents will be home soon?"

"Yes, this evening. I should get dinner going so they have it when they get here. They never eat on the plane." She said and Chloe looked down, feeling bad Beca had to lie like this. Knowing she wasn't going inside that cute little house with the flower garden under the window. She would be going to a condemned, drug filled, house in one of the most dangerous places in California.

"Alright, Have a good night." She said and Beca opened the door.

"Bye, Chloe. Good luck in your Bio lab tomorrow."

"Thank you, Bye Becs." She said as Beca got out and walked up the house, praying no one was home.

She had just reached the porch when she heard the car pull away and she pretended like she was looking for her key. Once they were gone, she let out a breath and walked back down the walkway and back in the direction they came.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review?